We have added an additional card club exchangefor the year.Please add it to your calendar!

Theme: “White Elephant”

Drop Off 3rd Saturday: Dec 17

Pick Up 4th Saturday after 12pm: Dec 24

For the “White Elephant” exchange, YOU get to pick your theme. All criteria remains the same – 10 alike cards, 10 recipes (1 per card), etc. We think this is a great way to share ideas that previous themes may not have covered or help you use the cards you perhaps started on for a previous theme but didn’t quite get finished!

A quick recap of the themes and due dates for card exchanges thru the end of this year:

September: Theme - "Fall Fun". Drop off no later than Sat, Sept 17. Available to pick up Sat, Sept 24 after 12pmOctober: Theme - "Tag-You're It!". Drop off no later than Sat, Oct 15. Available to pick up Sat, Oct 22 after 12pm November: Theme - "Thanks". Drop off no later than Sat, Nov 19. Available to pick up Sat, Nov 26 after 12pmDecember: Theme - "White Elephant - Your Choice!". Drop off no later than Sat, Dec 17. Available to pick up Sat, Dec 24, after 12pm

Hello there, Simple Pleasures readers! Wow. July’s Card Club Exchange marked the annual halfway mark…Christmas is coming, folks! Did you participate in our “Christmas in July” exchange?If you did, you are off to a great start with your holiday cards!

Speaking of cards…this month’s Featured Card is “Redbirds” designed by Jacque R.!

This card is simple, sweet (or is that ‘tweet!’) and gets me thinking of the cooler days ahead with that gorgeous red glitter, sheer green American Crafts ribbon and adorable Stamping Bella stamp.

You should stop by the store to see Jacque’s card and the rest of the wonderful holiday cards on our Card Club Exchange board.

Did you know that on the 4th Saturday of the month, the new cards are displayed on the main board behind the registers and the old cards begin their rotation out on the floor to eventually be displayed in albums at Simple Pleasures?That means, if you missed seeing the cards one month or wanted to get a second (or third or fourth) look at a design, you can!

Just ask to see the Card Club albums and we’ll be happy to assist you!

With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s always nice to receive a reminder that someone is “Thinking of You” by receiving a lovely handmade card. Join us in August using this theme.

(This is great opportunity to build up your stash or to make a few extra cards to donate (please include envelopes when you donate.) I’m sure we all know a few people who could use some cheering up!)

No sign ups, no obligation! Just remember to drop your cards off by the close of business on the 3rd Saturday of the month August 20thto participate! (You can always drop them off early, if it's more convenient for you! Just let us know what month they are for when you drop them off.) If you need a copy of the guidelines, stop by the store and pick them up! (The basic guidelines ensure that everyone gives and receives good quality cards!)

Upcoming themes:

September: “Fall Fun”

October: “Tag-You’re It!”

December: “White Elephant” (This exchange is an opportunity to ‘finish’ a set of cards or to design those cards that you’ve just been itching to make! Guidelines still apply.)

This month's theme was a fun one! There were ships, beaches, fish, mermaids...and lots of water! Another round of interesting designs by talented artists. There are plenty of details to see in this group of cards and techniques, too.

Take a look at this month's featured card by Evie B.

Too cute, right?

Do you recognize the buried bear? That cutie-patootey is from Great Impressions. If you like him, we just might still have a few of these left...

Evie added some great texture using a product that included clear adhesive with the sand. One way you could get a similar result is by using Diamond Glaze and pouring sand over the wet areas.. No sand? How about using some Antique Linen Distress Embossing Powder and using a little ink to give the project a little more dimension? I think you'd get some great results!

Does this get your creative wheels spinning? Join us for the next round of Simple Pleasures' Card Exchange. July's theme "Christmas in July" is the perfect opportunity to get a head start on those Christmas cards! Remember for every set of 10 (of the same) cards that you make and turn in by the deadline of Saturday, July 16, before 6pm, you will get 9 in return (1 is for the display board.) This is a great way to increase your Christmas Card stash!

Our first Card Club Social was great! We had a wonderful night hanging out with the Card Swap Exchange participants that were able to attend our get together last Wednesday. The evening began with yummy food...cheesecake, wings, crackers and dips, one savory and one sweet, tortilla roll-ups, fruit and more! No one was leaving hungry!

After everyone enjoyed a bit of the culinary goodness, there were games to play and prizes to be won...door prizes for attending, prizes for 'The Tray Game' and 'Guess the Designer' of this year's inaugural Card Swap Exchange and a Show and Tell of this month's "Making a Splash!" cards.

We even had a participant cross hundreds of miles, through sun and rain to get to our party...wondering who this devoted attendee was?

Cathy's mom, Jeanette! She wasn't able to actually be with us, but sent a letter and a picture to let us know how much she enjoys the cards and creativity. We made sure she knows how much we appreciate her, too!

Did you miss the fun? It's not too late to join in...stop by the store & pick up a copy of the guidelines. Hope to see you at the next Card Club Social!

You know we couldn't very well have "Cards for Her" (see our Featured Card Showcase from April 27th!) and not have "Cards for Him!" So this month, our card crafters put away the girlie pinks and glitzy glitters and cranked out some paper projects you could give the men in your life to let them know you're thinking of them! For some, masculine cards are difficult since the boys tend to not like too much ribbon, much sparkle and cutesy is definitely not what they want in a card, but stop by Simple Pleasures to be inspired. After all...Father's Day is just around the corner!

To get you started check out our "Cards for Him" featured card created by Kathleen M. - there's nothing girly about this card!

Kathleen used a variety of fun products on her card:

Tim Holtz dies

Alpha stamps

Vintage Photo and Antique Distress Inks

She even used adhesive backed foam! (You've got to see this card in person and find out how she creatively used foam on this card!)

Kathleen really did a great job on this card...INSIDE and out! (Hint: there's an old jalopy in this card...)

I know some of you are organized and already working on the next month's cards. For those of us that take things a little slower, here's a reminder of some upcoming themes:

July: "Christmas in July"

August: "Thinking of You"

September: "Fall Fun"

Jump in any time, when you can! No sign ups, no obligation! Just remember to drop your cards off by the close of business on the 3rd Saturday of the month to participate! (You can always drop them off early, if it's more convenient for you! Just let us know what month they are for when you drop them off.) If you need a copy of the guidelines, stop by the store and pick them up! (The basic guidelines ensure that everyone gives and receives good quality cards!)

June's theme "Making a Splash" should be a fun one! I'm sure we are all looking forward to warmer weather, long days and fun in the sun! Need a little help? How about using bright colors, fun fibers and big embellishments; thoughts of water, golf and sunshine, relaxation...

Don't forget: if you want to participate in our June Card Club Exchange your 10 (of the same design) cards are due no later than Saturday, June 18, before 6pm.

**For those of you who have participated in one of our Card Club Exchanges or are participating in our current exchange "Making a Splash" we invite you to join us for our Card Club Social on Wednesday, June 22 from 6 - 8pm. This will be a fun evening where everyone can meet their new card-crafting frineds .... light refreshments will be provided. Feel free to bring a finger food favorite to share, too!

We are still collecting cards and card making supplies for those in the Tuscaloosa, AL area. Feel free to make a few extra cards (please include envies) or bring some in from your stash!

A big THANK YOU to those that have already donated - know that you are making a difference! Simple Pleasures' customers are simply The Best!

I look forward to the new Card Club Exchange board every month! It's so exciting to see the new batch of paper creations - the 'old' and 'new' designers, the seriously themed cards and the 'hmmm...didn't think of that!' cards. I know you're wondering what the "Cards for Her" featured card showcase is going to be...

You won't have to wait any longer!

Michele H.'s wonderful lantern card!

Michele embossed the vellum lantern by scoring the lines and cut out the lantern using a die.

This picture doesn't do the card justice...this card is full of shimmer and shine - the ribbon, the lantern, those tiny pearls. You have got to stop by Simple Pleasures to see this one for yourself...and all the other cards, too!

Some of the techniques used this month were both dry and heat embossing, coloring with chalks and Copics, mists and colorwashes. Lots of die cutting, too!

For those of you planning ahead, here are are few of the upcoming themes:

June - "Making a Splash"

July - "Christmas in July"

Aug - "Thinking of You"

If you have never participated in any of our Card Club Exchanges, please stop by the store to pick up a copy of the guidelines. (The basic guidelines ensure that everyone gives and receives wonderful creations!)

Inspired? Want to join us for May's Card Club Exchange?

The May theme is "Cards for Him" (and we've already heard that some of our participants have been working on this one!) Need a little nudge to get you going? Well, obviously these cards should not be of the female persuasion, think masculine...my first thoughts are metal, sports, fiber, nature, cars, motorcycles, understated colors and embellishments...think about the men in your life...what would they like to receive for Father's Day, birthdays or just because?

Your 10 (of the same design) cards are due no later than Saturday, May 21st. Don't be late...we close at 6:00pm. We look forward to seeing your cards!

It’s said that #3 is the charm…and so it was for our March Card Club Exchange! Another stunning group of cards from our talented friends using the monthly theme of Spring into Easter. There were a variety of techniques and a few ‘new’ ones such as Iris folding and airbrushing using Copics.

If you’ve looked ahead at our Card Club Exchange schedule we have a theme for every month to help give you a place to start. Consider it a guideline! This month’s cards included eggs, bunnies, butterflies, cows, flowers, chicks and cranes.

Here’s the March Featured Card, designed by Marianne C.:

Isn’t it adorable?! Did you notice all the piecing? Quite a few of the elements were cut out using her Silhouette Machine and then pieced together on her card. The cut up purple ribbon is a nice touch!

Want to know what Marianne used to make her cute card?

Bazzill Cardstock

Silhouette Shapes – Cow C00032, Fence C00872, Sun 1579

We R Memory Keepers Stamp – Peep

Stickles – Silver, Cotton Candy and Lime Green

American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder – Purple

And more!

We even had someone participate by mail! Welcome Michele K., our first long distance Card Club designer! Since she was the first, we thought we’d include her card, too…

Sweet, right? There were so many wonderful cards this month. Make the time to stop by Simple Pleasures to see the other cards. It’s definitely worth it!

Even better – join us in April for our “Cards for Her” exchange. Cards need to be turned in by the end of the day Saturday, April 16. Put on those creative thinking caps…can’t wait to see what you come up with this time!

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